Description

Endometriosis and adenomyosis are benign gynecological conditions which affect more than 10% of women, that typically cause pain and / or infertility, thereby exerting a negative impact on the patients' quality of life.

Although the pathogenesis of endometriosis and adenomyosis are controversial, both diseases are defined by the presence of endometrial tissue outside the uterine cavity. Endometriosis is a heterogeneous disease, with three phenotypes: superficial peritoneal endometriosis (SUP), ovarian endometrioma (OMA), and deep infiltrating endometriosis (DIE) The most widely accepted pathophysiological hypothesis for endometriosis is that of the implantation of ectopic endometrial cells following peritoneal reflux. Endometriosis can be associated with adenomyosis, also heterogeneous, characterized by the infiltration of endometrial tissue into the myometrium, presenting different forms: diffuse, focal or cystic.

Due to diseases heterogeneity, the diagnosis of endometriosis and adenomyosis is difficult and affected patients are subject to a long delay for appropriate management.

We hypothesize that the disease may be progressive in terms of symptoms (pain, abnormal uterine bleeding and infertility), anatomical lesions and recurrences. Furthermore, highlighting specific clinical and molecular markers would shorten the diagnostic time.